The project aimed at uniting five different colleges to create the most substantial institution in further education might not materialize due to the decision of two of the colleges to retain their identity. West Yorkshire Learning and Skills Council had promoted the merger plan in Leeds, which could affect approximately 80,000 students by the autumn of 2008. Nevertheless, ministers no longer see the benefits of merging colleges. Instead, they advocate making sure that there is actual competition between providers, according to John Denham, the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills. Ian Billyard, the Principal at Leeds College of Building (LCB), supports this priority and opposes the merger plan due to the danger of losing the college’s specialized areas, such as machine woodworking and tiling.
Initially, the LSC had no intention of merging LCB if it agreed to federate. However, a change of attitude came after informal consultations in October, causing concern among stakeholders. LCB provides construction courses for approximately 7,000 students, nearly half of whom come from outside the city. Furthermore, all the college’s provision attained an outstanding or good rating at the last Ofsted inspection, and LCB’s financial status is grade A. The building industry is also alarmed by the threat to LCB’s independence and view this as an important sector, so having a dedicated college that maintains specialist provision is needed.
Joseph Priestley College situated in South Leeds is also fighting to remain independent despite having a diverse, poor population that relies on the college’s services. Carolyn Wright, the Principal, asserts that the college is unique in its approach to supporting its community, and learners choose the institution. The LSC commissioned a report in 2003 from the University of Warwick’s Centre for Education and Industry that concluded that mixed mergers could cause issues, including culture clashes, with few real financial benefits to mergers. Also, they involve substantial costs, and any benefits that emerge only do so long-term, if at all.
West Yorkshire LSC advocates building new college campuses in a unified system that maintains and extends specialization, but the other colleges involved, including Leeds College of Technology, Park Lane, and Thomas Danby, are still involved in formal consultations, which have been extended to December 21. According to Margaret Coleman, the regional director for the LSC in Yorkshire and the Humber, the merger plan is a landmark stage and, when completed, will provide new and better-equipped buildings on existing campuses that will give better access to more people. Education Leeds, which assumes control from the LSC in 2010, believes that the merger will remove duplication and enhance learning opportunities.
After the consultation is concluded, a careful evaluation of the situation will be carried out. Leeds College of Building will not be coerced to change its stance if it chooses to maintain its current viewpoint. Currently, it is not confirmed whether Joseph Priestley has reached a decision."
